Pulling the pelt of the newly skinned wolf around him, Zahn picks his way back up the mountain. No doubt the she-wolf will have returned to her lair as he laid low and healed. Now he would take her deep in the mountain. He releases Old One Eye to fly ahead and see what only the Raven can see…
[ Gather Information Strong hit with Raven – discovers The Fell Lair of Hhurn, a wild, fell cavern littered with the human remains of her victims, including the Messenger and sleeping wolf cubs]
Zahn knows he must return to Bleakfrost with evidence of the messenger’s death. A ring from his decaying hand will do. He whispers to Old One Eye to sweep down and steal the ring from under Hhurn’s snout.
[Secure an Advantage with Raven, Weak hit]
Old One Eye grabs the messenger’s ring between the jaws of his beak and slowly works it off the blue-grey flesh. It comes, but it slips off the finger and out of his grasp, bouncing down the rocks with a sharp chime. The bird swoops down and plucks up the ring, but it is too late – Hhurn is awake!
Now the question stands – will the skin of her mate work as a distraction?
[Secure an Advantage: Strong hit – The She Wolf is confused by the scent of something she thought was long dead. It momentarily takes her eyes off the shadows and that was all Zahn needs!]
The Scourge leaps into combat, his spear slicing down towards the She-Wolf sending her skittering backwards. Hhurn is a Dangerous monster taking 2 Progress per Harm, and doing 2 Damage.
[Enter the Fray: Strong hit]
Leaping from the shadows, Zahn’s spear slices out to pierce the beast…
[Strike: Miss: Burnt momentum (10). Strong hit, 4 Progress]
The spear misses but Zahn spins and slices, drawing his spear back and then bringing it down on the beast’s neck. Pressing his advantage, he surges forward and attempts to skewer the wolf.
[Strike: Weak hit: 2 Progress, 6 in total]
The wolf twists out of the way and swats Zahn with its head, sending him staggering across the lair, smashing off the rocky wall. The wind is knocked from him, and before he knows it, the wolf is upon him.
[Clash: Weak hit: 2 Progress and 2 Health damage, now 8 Progress and 3 Health]
The wolf sinks her jaws into the bracers on his arm, twisting and pulling his body like a straw doll. She leaps on top of him and he drops his spear driving his fingers into the wolf’s huge piercing eyes.
[Clash: Strong hit: +1 harm, 10 Progress]
[Resolve: Hhurn resolved. Strong hit]
Zahn pushes and pushes, crushing the wolf and then releases, grabbing his weapon and driving it into the chest of the wolf. With a deep howl, she dies – a howl that cuts through his very soul.
[Fulfil a Vow: Defeat the Wolf Mother Hhurn and return the remains of the messenger resolved. Strong hit]
This is a Milestone and generates 2 progress on the Vow to protect Bleakstone. It also generates 2 experience.
Zahn plucks the ring from the Messenger from Old One Eye, grabs a wolf pup in his arms and makes his way back to Stonemoor.
